Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

With bloodshot eyes, Jia Dongxu clenched his fists and charged at Sun Jingyuan like a madman, his whole body radiating ferocity. He clearly wanted to take advantage of his superior numbers to teach Sun Jingyuan a lesson and regain his face.

Everyone expected Sun Jingyuan to instinctively back away, but to their surprise, he simply stood calmly in place, his feet not moving an inch. Just as Jia Dongxu's fist was about to strike him, Sun Jingyuan slightly shifted his body, easily avoiding the brute force of the impact, and then swiftly swung his hand back.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, loud slap echoed throughout the entire courtyard, piercing through all the surrounding noise and sounding particularly jarring.

The force of the blow threw Jia Dongxu off balance, causing him to lurch violently to the ground, sending dust flying. Half of his face swelled up visibly, five clear, bright red handprints deeply imprinted on his face. He was stunned, lying on the ground with a blank stare, unable to recover for a long time, even forgetting to cry out in pain.

The onlookers gasped in shock, completely stunned. No one had expected Sun Jingyuan to act so decisively and with such force. For a moment, the entire area fell silent.

"Sun Jingyuan, how dare you lay a hand on someone in the courtyard? Have you no regard for the law?!"

A furious shout suddenly rang out, and Yi Zhonghai rushed out of the house, his face ashen, looking indignant. He had been calculating his retirement expenses inside when he was disturbed by the commotion in the courtyard. As soon as he came out, he saw Jia Dongxu lying on the ground. Without thinking, he immediately blamed Sun Jingyuan and hurriedly stepped forward to support the Jia family.

"Uncle Yi, you should at least have a conscience when you speak, and open your eyes wider." Sun Jingyuan glanced sideways at Yi Zhonghai, a faint sneer playing on his lips. His tone was calm, yet every word was forceful. "Didn't you see he rushed over first, his eyes red, and tried to hit me without saying a word? I was acting in self-defense. Anyone would be standing there and taking a beating, wouldn't they?"

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback by these words, but he still wouldn't back down. He put on a stern face and adopted the sternness of an old man: "Even if he hit me first, you shouldn't have used such force! He's your neighbor. To hit him like that is impolite and unreasonable!"

"He insulted my mother first! He was the one who spoke rudely to my mother first, so I couldn't help but hit him!" Jia Dongxu finally came to his senses from his daze, covered his swollen face, staggered to his feet, and roared angrily at Sun Jingyuan, his face full of grievance and anger.

"Uncle, you have to stand up for us!" Upon seeing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately rushed to Yi Zhonghai's side, wailing and crying with snot and tears streaming down her face. Pointing at Sun Jingyuan, she threw a tantrum, "This outsider has been bullying our Jia family since he came into the courtyard! First, he insulted me, and now he's hit my son! We, a widow and her son, can't live here anymore! If you don't do anything, we'll have to go to the neighborhood committee or the factory to seek justice!"

"This is outrageous!" Yi Zhonghai's face grew increasingly grim. He turned to Sun Jingyuan and shouted angrily, completely disregarding the facts and blatantly siding with the Jia family. "No matter what, Jia Zhangshi is your elder. It was wrong of you to speak rudely, and now you've injured someone, making things even worse! Quickly apologize to Jia Zhangshi and give her five yuan to treat Dongxu's injuries and face, and this matter will be over. Otherwise, I will definitely not let this go!"

"Yes! You have to pay! Not a penny less!" Upon hearing that he had to pay, Jia Dongxu's anger dissipated almost entirely, replaced by a greedy glint in his eyes. He stared intently at the brand-new Forever 28-inch bicycle behind Sun Jingyuan, plotting to extort a large sum of money from this incident, hoping to get his hands on the bicycle.

Sun Jingyuan chuckled as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, his tone full of disdain: "I won't apologize, nor will I pay compensation. What can you do about it?"

"You! You're absolutely unreasonable!" Yi Zhonghai was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at Sun Jingyuan, pointing his finger at him, unable to speak for a long time.

"Yesterday, the old men in the courtyard discussed the courtyard rules, and you yourself said, 'It's inevitable that neighbors will quarrel. Small things should be resolved peacefully so as not to hurt feelings.' How come it's the same courtyard matter, but when it comes to me, I have to apologize and pay compensation? Uncle Yi, your double standards are too obvious, aren't they?" Sun Jingyuan's gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai, and he said slowly, every word hitting the nail on the head.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, instantly darkened his expression and glared at Yi Zhonghai with hostility. He had personally heard Yi Zhonghai say these words yesterday, and now he was turning around and showing double standards by favoring the Jia family. He was immediately filled with resentment.

Yi Zhonghai's face turned pale and then red, speechless after being rebuked. He stood there awkwardly, wanting to refute but unable to find any reason, his face turning bright red.

Sun Jingyuan, too lazy to watch his embarrassing state any longer, took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket. Just as he pulled one out, Yan Bugui quietly approached. He smiled and offered him one, which Yan Bugui quickly accepted with both hands. His earlier dissatisfaction instantly dissipated, and he nodded slightly to Sun Jingyuan, clearly siding with him.

"Sun Jingyuan, I'll fight you to the death!" Jia Dongxu looked at Sun Jingyuan's nonchalant demeanor and was being pointed at and gossiped about by the surrounding neighbors. He couldn't bear it any longer and clenched his fists, ready to charge forward again.

"Dongxu, don't be impulsive!" Qin Huairu rushed forward, grabbing Jia Dongxu's arm tightly, her face full of anxiety as she pleaded, "You can't beat him at all. If you go up there, you'll just get beaten up for nothing, and then our whole family will suffer. Stop making trouble!"

"Get out of my way! Don't stop me!" Jia Dongxu was furious. He forcefully swung his arm and shoved Qin Huairu away. Qin Huairu was already thin and weak. She lost her balance and fell to the ground with a thud. Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in them, but she dared not cry out.

It was this push that calmed Jia Dongxu down a bit. He knew that, let alone himself, even the strongest guy in the courtyard, known as "Silly Zhu," had suffered at Sun Jingyuan's hands. If he rushed forward again, he would only be asking for trouble. Thinking of this, he could only suppress his anger, standing there panting, glaring fiercely at Sun Jingyuan, but he dared not take another step forward.

"Want to fight again? If not, I'm going back inside. I don't have time to waste here with you guys." Sun Jingyuan yawned, looking lazy and completely unconcerned about the farce.

Jia Dongxu was so angry that he was trembling all over, his teeth grinding together, but he didn't dare to go forward again and could only stand there in frustration.

Seeing the stalemate, Yi Zhonghai knew that no matter how much he sided with Sun Jingyuan, it would be useless; he had no control over Sun Jingyuan, and continuing the commotion would only make him look worse. He put on a stern face and, feigning authority, shouted, "Enough! Stop arguing! What kind of behavior is this! Everyone disperse and go home. Let's call this a day!"

These words were undoubtedly a way for him to save face. The onlookers, having had their fill of the commotion, turned and left one after another. Before long, the courtyard returned to calm.

Sun Jingyuan chuckled, too lazy to argue with these people anymore. He pushed his brand-new bicycle, turned around and went back to his hut, casually closing the door to completely shut out the outside noise.

"You little beast, just you wait, you'll regret this sooner or later!" Jia Zhangshi watched Sun Jingyuan's back, hiding in a corner and gritting her teeth, but she only dared to say a few harsh words behind his back and did not dare to provoke him again.

Sun Jingyuan returned to his house and collapsed onto the bed. After tossing and turning all day, he was truly exhausted. Actually, he had originally planned to go to the neighborhood office to see Director Wang to discuss house repairs. He couldn't stand the filthy public toilet in the yard and desperately wanted to build a separate bathroom inside the house. However, when he arrived at the neighborhood office, he didn't see Director Wang. He could only ask a staff member to convey his request, asking Director Wang to recommend some reliable and honest craftsmen.

He never expected to encounter this farce after returning to the hospital. Now that the farce has subsided, he didn't think about it anymore. As sleepiness came over him, he fell into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long I slept, but the sun outside the window was already setting in the west. A simple and honest shout came from outside the courtyard gate, loud and clear, breaking the quiet of the small courtyard.

"Master Sun! Is Master Sun home? I'm Lei Aniu, introduced by Director Wang from the neighborhood office!"

Sun Jingyuan instantly snapped out of his daze, rubbed his temples, got up, and quickly walked to the courtyard gate, opening the door to his room.

Standing outside the door was a dark-skinned, tall, and sturdy man with thick calluses on his hands, clearly a skilled craftsman who had done manual labor for years. Behind him were two young men, dressed simply and cleanly, looking reserved, each carrying a heavy tool bag, standing properly in place without the slightest sign of laxity.

"I am Sun Jingyuan, and who are you?" Sun Jingyuan asked in a calm tone.

"Hello, Mr. Sun, my name is Lei Aniu. I was introduced by Director Wang from the neighborhood office. He said your house needs repairs." Lei Aniu grinned, revealing a set of neat white teeth. He looked honest and sincere, and spoke very frankly.

"So it's Master Lei. Please come in, don't stand outside." Sun Jingyuan stepped aside to make way for the three of them and welcomed them into the courtyard. He then turned around, took out a Daqianmen cigarette case, and handed a cigarette to Lei Aniu and his two apprentices.

Lei Aniu quickly wiped his hands on his clothes before respectfully accepting the cigarettes and thanking him repeatedly. His two apprentices looked at the expensive cigarettes in their hands with delighted eyes, but hesitated to accept them, standing there very awkwardly.

"Take it, it's all from the boss, don't be shy." Lei Aniu said with a blush, and the two carefully took the cigarettes, holding them tightly in their hands, reluctant to light them, their hearts full of gratitude.

Sun Jingyuan saw this and felt more favorably toward the three of them for their discipline and good manners.

"Master Lei, let's get straight to the point and not beat around the bush." ​​Sun Jingyuan turned around and went back into the house, took out the repair drawings he had prepared in advance, and handed them to Lei Aniu. His tone was straightforward, "I only have two requirements for the house repair. I will not be stingy with money. You may use the best materials, but the work must be done meticulously. You must not cut corners or do a perfunctory job."

"Master Sun, you can rest assured!" Lei Aniu took the blueprints, examined them carefully for a moment, and solemnly guaranteed with a pat on his chest, "Our Lei family has been doing handicrafts for generations, relying on honesty and skill. If the work isn't up to standard, feel free to come to me, I won't hesitate!"

"Judging from what Master Lei said, his ancestors were also old craftsmen?" Sun Jingyuan asked casually.

Lei Aniu revealed a hint of undisguised pride on his face, but then composed himself and cupped his hands, saying, "I dare not call myself a master craftsman. My ancestors were the Lei family of architectural styles, and we have been undertaking royal construction for generations. Now I am just an ordinary craftsman, only seeking to make a living with my skills and to be down-to-earth and honest."

Sun Jingyuan nodded slightly. He had long heard of the reputation of the Lei family. Many of the royal palaces and mausoleums of the Ming and Qing dynasties were built by them. They were a true family of craftsmen. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to invite this family to repair the house.

"The craftsmanship of the Yangshi Lei family is naturally trustworthy." Sun Jingyuan said no more, pointing to the blueprints and continuing, "The key points are twofold: first, the installation of an independent bathroom inside the house, with the pipes running along the exterior wall to avoid bothering the neighbors in the yard; second, the entire wooden structure of the house must be replaced with a sturdier one, and the walls must be leveled and painted white again. The work must be meticulous, without the slightest carelessness."

Lei Aniu, holding the blueprints, carefully measured and inspected the house inside and out, occasionally asking about details such as the diameter of the bathroom drain and the specific specifications of the wood. After a while, he returned to the house and said in a deep voice, "Master Sun, according to your requirements, this is a large project. The pipe laying and wood repairs will take at least half a month to complete. It's a fixed price of four hundred yuan, labor and materials included, no bargaining."

Upon hearing this, both apprentices subconsciously swallowed. Four hundred yuan was enough for an ordinary worker to save for more than a year without eating or drinking; the price for repairing a house was indeed not low.

Sun Jingyuan didn't even frown, nodding and saying, "The price is fine. I'll pay a deposit of two hundred yuan first. After the work is finished, I'll give you another one hundred and fifty yuan. Once everything is completed and passes inspection, I'll settle the remaining fifty yuan immediately. But let me make this clear: if the work is done sloppily or if you cut corners, not only will I not get the remaining payment, but I'll also have to ask you for compensation."

"Don't worry, Master Sun! I, Lei Aniu, earn my living with my skills and would never dare to cheat anyone!" Lei Aniu excitedly accepted the money, his hands trembling slightly. This was the first time he had encountered such a generous employer who even paid half of the deposit.

"Oh, right, there's something else I need to trouble you with." Sun Jingyuan pulled Lei Aniu aside and lowered his voice, "I need to have a complete set of furniture made. I need a batch of good wood. It would be best if you could get Phoebe zhennan, followed by Huanghuali. If that's not possible, just get some genuine rosewood. As long as the material is good and comes from a legitimate source, it's fine."

Lei Aniu's expression hardened, and he lowered his voice to reply, "Master Sun, these are all controlled materials, so they're not easy to obtain. However, I have a batch of old materials that I acquired years ago, and all the paperwork is complete, but the price isn't cheap. A complete set of old Phoebe zhennan wood, enough to make a bed, cabinet, table, and chairs, would cost a thousand yuan."

"Deal." Sun Jingyuan nodded on the spot, and added, "I'll give you an extra fifty yuan as a referral fee. You help me get the timber, and have them install some matching bricks and timber as well, so it's all done in one go, saving me the trouble of running around later."

"Fifty yuan referral fee?" The two apprentices' eyes widened instantly, and they swallowed hard. This employer was too generous.

Lei Aniu was also very excited and quickly replied, "No problem! Master Sun, just wait for my news. I'll contact them tomorrow and guarantee to get you the best materials!"

"Then I'll wait for your news. You decide on the start date, just let me know in advance." Sun Jingyuan waved his hand, looking at Lei Aniu and his two apprentices, feeling a bit more expectant about the house renovation.